This easy baked bean chili recipe comes together quickly and is only SIX ingredients! —the ultimate fusion of down-home comfort and fiery excitement. With a symphony of hearty beans, zesty spices, and a touch of sweet tanginess, this chili will have your senses doing the tango in no time. Hearty, filling, and a fantastic 30 minute dinner recipe!
Serve this with my sweet and simple cornbread, cinnamon honey butter, and grilled cheese sandwiches for a filling meal even the pickiest eater will love.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Chili
- Six Ingredients: Can you really hate a recipe that comes together in under 30 minutes and uses only a handful of pantry staples?
- Bold Flavor: The flavor of this chili will surprise you! It’s a little sweet with a savory note that melds the flavors perfectly!
- My Favorite Comfort Meal: This is the recipe I reach for whenever I want my belly to be warm and full.
Admission: this recipe started as a sponsored post. They requested that I make a meal using baked beans that was under 10 ingredients. We whipped this up and form that first test taste bite I was hooked.
This chili is SO DANG GOOD. Since the first time, we have made this well over 20 times and there are never any leftovers. This dish is a harmonious blend of smoky, sweet, spicy, and savory notes. It’s a comforting and satisfying dish that warms you up from the inside out and keeps you coming back for more. You’ll be shocked at how delicious this underrated recipe is and how many people will beg for the recipe!
Six Ingredient Chili Ingredients:
Baked beans in a chili?? Is that girl crazy?? I will stop you right there and reassure you that I am not and that this recipe is to-die-for! Along with making this at home, we once made it for a large group while camping. Everyone agreed that the smokey flavor you get from the baked beans added just the right touch. Top things off with some fresh chopped onion and shredded cheese and you will never make another chili recipe again!
- Ground Beef: Could you make this with ground turkey or chicken? Yep! Pick your favorite protein.
- Onion: Yellow or a sweet onion work best. Don’t skimp! We even like to add a little fresh onion to the top when serving.
- Baked Beans: Since originally making this recipe we’ve tested this with almost every baked bean brand. They all work and are equally delicious! Just remember to remove the added giant bacon piece.
- Diced Tomatoes with Chilies (Rotel): One can. Pick your spice level based on your preference. We like mild.
- Tomato Juice: The secret ingredient. A little tomato juice. You can find a giant can for under $1 in the canned tomato aisle. Freeze the extra for next time.
- Chili Seasoning: Again, pick your favorite brand and spice level. We like McCormick classic chili seasoning.
How To Make Baked Bean Chili
This recipe is EASY which makes it a go-to for busy weeknights. It also makes enough to feed a crowd, so perfect for parties!
- PREP: Heat a large pot, or deep skillet, over medium heat.
- BROWN: ADd the ground beef and onion. Cook and crumble until the meat is browned and the onion is soft.
- SIMMER: Stir in the baked beans, tomatoes with chilies, tomato juice, and chili seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until heated through.
- ENJOY: Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped onions, or any of your other favorite chili toppings!
Helpful Tools
- Meat Chopper: This was a random off the wall gift my husband gave me that turned into one of my favorite kitchen items. Meat Choppers (affiliate) make it super simple to cook ground meats like beef, chicken, and pork.
- Pot: I used my Calphalon pot (affiliate), which an amazing option, but you could also use a dutch oven (affiliate).
- Serving Bowls: I love this set of deep serving bowls (affiliate) for this chili. Holds a decent amount and still leaves room for toppings!
Recipe Notes:
Yes, you can absolutely make baked bean chili in a slow cooker or Instant Pot! Both appliances offer convenient methods for cooking chili, and they can help develop rich flavors and tender textures. Make sure you brown the meat before adding to a slow cooker, or saute in the Instant Pot before cooking.
Adjusting the spiciness level of baked bean chili is a personal preference, and there are several ways you can customize the heat to suit your taste. Here are a few methods to consider: use a milder chili seasoning packet, add a sprinkle of cayenne, offer hot sauce as a topping.
Remember, it’s always easier to add more heat later if desired, so start with less spice and gradually increase it until you reach your desired level. Taste the chili as you go and adjust accordingly until it reaches the perfect balance for you.
While we love the simplicity of this recipe, we also loooooove loading it up with additional toppings. Here are a few of our favorite ways to spice things up!
Hot Sauce, Cheddar Cheese, Chopped Onion, Sour Cream, Corn Chips, Lettuce, Avocado, Tortilla Chips, and Salsa.
Also, if you are not afraid of a little salt, try Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning. We like it on almost everything, but especially this chili.
Absolutely! Adding other vegetables to baked bean chili is a fantastic way to enhance the flavor, texture, and nutritional value of the dish. Here are some common vegetables you can consider adding: bell peppers, corn, carrots, celery, zucchini, spinach, or even sweet potatoes!
Allow the chili to cool completely after cooking. Transfer to freezer safe containers and label with the date and freeze. When you’re ready to enjoy the frozen chili, you can thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost function on your microwave. Once thawed, reheat the chili on the stovetop or in the microwave until it reaches a safe serving temperature (165°F or 74°C).
Frozen baked bean chili can typically be stored for up to 3 months. However, for the best quality, it’s recommended to consume it within 1 to 2 months. Enjoy your frozen chili whenever you’re in the mood for a quick and comforting meal!
More 30 Minute Meals
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Sweet Baked Bean Chili
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion chopped
- 1 (28 oz) can of baked beans
- 1 (10oz) can diced tomatoes with chilies (Rotel)
- 1½ cups tomato juice
- 1 envelope chili seasoning
Instructions
- Heat a large pot, or deep skillet, over medium heat.
- Add the ground beef and onion. Cook and crumble until the meat is browned and the onion is soft.
- Stir in the baked beans, tomatoes with chilies, tomato juice, and chili seasoning. Simmer for 10 minutes, or until heated through.
- Serve with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped onions, or any of your other favorite chili toppings!
Notes
Nutrition
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Comments & Reviews
Alec says
This recipe seems like it would be delicious – and so easy. The recipe notes say it can be cooked in a slow cooker, but don’t give any specifics. What are the instructions for cooking in a slow cooker (i.e., cooking times on both high and low)? I:d like to try it.
Jesseca says
Hi Alec, here’s how we make this in the slow cooker:
Heat a large pot, or deep skillet, over medium heat.
Add the ground beef and onion. Cook and crumble until the meat is browned and the onion is soft.
Add remaining ingredients into the slow cooker: can of baked beans, diced tomatoes with chilies (Rotel), tomato juice, chili seasoning.
Stir to combine and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-8 hours. Season to taste if desired and serve warm.
Megan says
Delicious. Didn’t have a spice mix so I made one from another recipe online.
Loved the sweetness of this, it was so good it didn’t even need toppings.
Jesseca says
Hi Megan, I’m so glad you liked the recipe! It’s actually on our menu for this week and one of our fall favorites.
K Hunt says
Where do you find those pouches of baked beans? I’ve only ever seen cans. I assume you could substitute if needed? Looks delish!
Jesseca says
Hi K. I haven’t been able to find that brand lately in store. I use the cans of original flavor beans and it tastes the same. Hope this helps!
Karen Lee says
We absolutely loved this recipe!!!! We used Bush’s Best Grilling Beans Steakhouse Recipe for the baked beans component and it was perfect! We omitted the tomato juice so that it would be thicker and for us it was a good choice. Thanks again for sharing this 🥰
Jesseca says
Yay! This is one of the underrated recipes on my site that I always feel deserves more love. One of our all-time favorites. I’ll have to try it with your suggestions. Thanks for the love!